Government Grants New Planning Powers to Mayors Outside London

Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Solutions. Read the original article for full details.

Government Grants New Planning Powers to Mayors Outside London

The government has announced that mayors outside London will soon receive new powers to take over key planning applications in their regions. These powers will apply to housing schemes of more than 150 homes, allowing mayors to direct local authorities on whether an application should be approved or refused.

Mayors will also be able to grant development permission in advance, enabling construction to begin without developers needing to submit individual planning applications. The changes are supported by 10 mayors from across the political spectrum and are intended to bring mayoral powers in England more closely in line with those already held by the Mayor of London.

Increased Control Over Housing Investment

Alongside the planning reforms, mayors will have a greater role in deciding how national housing funding is spent in their areas. While Homes England will continue to lead on the largest projects, its funding and expertise will be directed towards priorities agreed with local mayors.

A £1.3 billion share of the national fund for land and infrastructure has already been allocated to the seven most established mayoral areas. Additionally, £234 million of brownfield funding has been provided for seven mayoral strategic authorities, and £1.5 billion has been committed to devolution through the Housing Accelerator Fund.

Housing Delivery and Consultation

The announcement comes as the government faces scrutiny over its ambition to deliver one-and-a-half million new homes. In the first quarter of 2026, 39,890 homes were completed across the UK, representing a 2.7% increase compared to the same period a year earlier, but a 19.1% decrease from the previous quarter.

A consultation on the mayoral planning powers, as part of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026, is scheduled to close on 5 October.